Abstract: An expansion dowel consists of an axially extending dowel body with a spreading member at its leading end and an expansion member extending around the dowel body rearwardly of the spreading member. A helically arranged control cam surface is formed on the expansion member and faces toward the trailing end of the dowel body. A stop is formed on and extends outwardly from the dowel body and contacts the control cam surface. When the dowel body is turned around its axis relative to the expansion member, the stop rides on the control cam surface and causes the spreading member to expand the expansion member radially outwardly.

Abstract: For dependently supporting an object, such as from a ceiling or overhead support, a pair of elongated support elements are locked into a clamp strap. An upper one of the support elements extends upwardly from the clamp strap for attachment to the overhead support while the other support element extends downwardly from the clamp strap with the object to be supported attached to its lower end. The upper and lower support elements are co-extensive for a portion of their lengths. The co-extensive portions of the support elements are contiguous to one another. The clamp strap has a pair of legs with at least one slot in each leg extending in the direction of the leg. The co-extensive portions of the support elements pass through and are held within the slots in the clamp strap. The slots have a shape generally conforming to at least a part of the transverse cross-sectional shape of the support element.